If we finish 4th, should Ole get the job full time? [Poll added]

If we finish in the top 4 should Ole be made permanent manager?

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No no no! Only one man for the job (Poch) Don't get me wrong Ole been fantastic and got some team spirit back in the side. It's nice to be scoring again and enjoy watching them. However, from a defensive point a few he has a lot to learn. Doesn't come over too well in interviews either. Doesn't give me confidants like other top managers.

I'd be happy with top 6 but top four would be a minor miracle if he did that. Let's enjoy the ride and and reaward him with a big £££ bonus and if possible keep him on as a No 2 if Poch happy to.
 
dogwithabone said:
Disagree.

Every board will want to see a winning team and in the case of the bigger clubs an expectancy that a manager that can ally winning with style. In my opinion it’s delusional to think we could have won, say, 2 of these 4, lost 1 and drawn 1 and there’d still be this feel good factor surrounding OGS on the basis that the football was more progressive.

To quote Fergie pre Blackburn when first PL title was already won - ‘Enjoy it BUT win’ ....
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You misunderstand me. Of course, winning is important. If Ole didn't win all these games, certainly we wouldn't be mentioning him as a candidate for permanent manager. But merely winning also wouldn't be enough, ie, if he won via hoofball. The current style + the wins is what has us excited, and that was the point I was making.

Conversely, the right style always pays rich dividends. Despite all the arguments about "style doesn't matter", ultimately it does matter to winning. Even negative football has to be done to perfection ala Simeone to rack up wins, and so a positive style which is in line with modern thinking is bound to result in wins anyway.
 
Wednesday at Stoke said:
If we don't get Pochettino, just give Ole a 3 year deal and go from there, there really aren't any clear cut options otherwise.
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That would be my take on it too. Feck it, even if we don’t make 4th there are scenarios where I’d still give it to Ole if Poch wasn’t available. Say the current top four teams go on a great run and we close the gap but can’t overtake them.
 
Its a decision to be made. If we are defo going all out for Poch, then the reason its a tough one is because it might be the only time we could get Poch.

However if we get him and it doesnt work out, I reckon we could still get Ole.
But if we appoint Ole, and it doesnt work out, then I dont think we can get Poch (if that makes sense)

I do hope we are thinking this through and not making hasty decisions. For Ole though, I think this was a good run of 4 games to start with. Wanna see how he deals with the big games (still got everybody within top 5 to play). And of course the CL games still to go.
 
Much as I love Ole, I can't help but feel the current job here is a little too big for him long term and could easily and very quickly overwhelm him. There's something about him in pressers and interviews that I can't help but feel he is 'saying' the right things but doesn't look 100% comfortable. That may just be my perception but it is my perception nonetheless.

At the moment, he is not under any massive pressure, no one really expects a title charge or even top 4 so it is as easy as it would ever be right now. The first day of the new season would be a different matter and it would be very difficult to watch one of our heroes be put under the hammer as he would be.

Much as I am willing him to do well and am enjoying the refreshing change now Jose has gone I can't help but feel we need a more hardened and experienced manager which is why I think Zidane would also be the wrong choice. Whether Poch has won anything is almost beside the point, what he HAS proved is that he can build and improve teams and get them playing better. That's exactly what we need right now as really, the job has only just started.
 
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Getting 4th place at this stage would be an amazing achievement..But I don't think it's as simple as that, there's an element of grey. His in-game management, rotation, relationship with players and so much more NEEDS to be thoroughly analysed against his experience (or lack thereof) before a decision is made. What if Arsenal and Chelsea go through a mid-season crisis or something?? It would be a great achievement but we can't afford to get it wrong again.

For me, the same should apply if he finishes 5th or 6th perhaps due to injuries to key players. Circumstances should be taken into consideration is all I'm saying.
 
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Yes, absolutely.

Forget top 4, if we continue this brand of football and we see further improvements, I am for continuing with Ole even if we don't get top 4.
 
If we reach top 4, play well also in the big games and advance in the CL, he deserves it. But I need to see more, I want to avoid a Di Matteo situation
 
The Last Jedaiiii said:
No, because we wouldn't want a Di Matteo situation repeating itself. I'd go all out for Allegri tbh- on and off the pitch he's everything you'd want in a Manchester United Manager.
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How is this a Di Matteo situation? Why not a Guardiola situation? Or a Zidane situation? Or any of those? Just because its a former player does not mean history is bound to repeat itself.

Also, Allegri is a terrific coach, no doubt about it, but i honestly dont see why he would leave Juventus over us and getting managers is not exactly like browsing for clothes at the shop
 
The good news is that we have nearly half a season left to observe, analyse and decide. By the end of the season, we'll hopefully have a DoF in place and have seen what OGS can achieve over 21 games.

No need to think about this, now, the priority should be on tightening the defence and consolidating four good results, to build a serious base for a top 4 place.
 
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Yes I think so. It would be a significant achievement from where we were when he took over, and he would've shown himself capable of outperforming at least two of Spurs/Chelsea/Arsenal.

That being said, I don't think we'll make it - in my view the top 7 are now settled and we won't see any shifting of the positions come May.
 
I'm beginning to favour Ole staying on for a further season and see how that goes. I just think a new manager will be new dawn again with too much upheaval. Ole can just buy a few players (centre-back, right-back and possibly a right-sided winger) and see how it goes.

This would also give any new DoF coming in more time to evaluate the whole set-up of the club and any decent youth players coming through the system.
 
keithsingleton said:
No no no! Only one man for the job (Poch) Don't get me wrong Ole been fantastic and got some team spirit back in the side. It's nice to be scoring again and enjoy watching them. However, from a defensive point a few he has a lot to learn. Doesn't come over too well in interviews either. Doesn't give me confidants like other top managers.

I'd be happy with top 6 but top four would be a minor miracle if he did that. Let's enjoy the ride and and reaward him with a big £££ bonus and if possible keep him on as a No 2 if Poch happy to.
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Let me get this straight. So if Solskjaer manages to get top 4, you want to sack him and the coaches around him, bring in an unknown quantity because 'Poch is the man', along with his coaches so we can be more like Tottenham?

You do realise Solskjaer has won more silverware and has more experience than Poch? As for against the top 6 records, Tottenham's is woeful, especially away from home.

Also, £40m just to speak to Poch and what's the guarantee he wouldn't want to go to Madrid at some point?

We're better off signing Ole and letting Poch go to Madrid, then when they sack him before the end of the season, we'll have the option to pick him up if Solskjaer doesn't work out. At the moment, Solskjaer is the least risk and highest reward option.
 
Depends how badly we want Poch,ideally Utd can retain Ole (especially if we get top 4) and both could work together!
 
Because we're playing so well, I've lowered my demands on him a bit. Originally I said he had to win the CL and FA cup to have any chance of becoming permanent manager. But now, if we do well in the games against Tottenham, PSG, Liverpool, Man City and show that we can compete, he should be given the job.
 
Sultan said:
I'm beginning to favour Ole staying on for a further season and see how that goes. I just think a new manager will be new dawn again with too much upheaval. Ole can just buy a few players (centre-back, right-back and possibly a right-sided winger) and see how it goes.

This would also give any new DoF coming in more time to evaluate the whole set-up of the club and any decent youth players coming through the system.
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This. I think getting in a DOF will help Solskjaer massively. His purchasing history isn't great but I guess it's hard to get the best players when you manage in a one team league or manage Cardiff. I'd like to see a DOF who knows the club, someone like Van Der Sar. Then we could leave the managing the team up to the manager.
 
reddaz71 said:
Depends how badly we want Poch,ideally Utd can retain Ole (especially if we get top 4) and both could work together!
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Ole working with Poch will never happen. They're both coaches/managers in their own right.
 
I personally think managing top footballers is about man-management. There are many footballing brains around the manager to help coach players. Early days yet but the core of the players seem to have taken to Ole. Even our high profile subs were looking happy on the bench yesterday.
 
Wednesday at Stoke said:
If we don't get Pochettino, just give Ole a 3 year deal and go from there, there really aren't any clear cut options otherwise.
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Second this. It might still be too early to decide now but the signs are encouraging. Everybody, from the backroom staffs to the players look happy.
 
Like a lot of United fans, I've always had a very soft spot for Ole. Although I'm trying to remain objective me prioritising Ole for the job is maybe me talking from the heart rather than the head.
 
It's not about the position where We finish. If We keep beating smaller teams and do well against the top 6 teams, then We should keep him. Under Mou and LvG We didn't have consistency, We kept losing/drawing against smaller teams.
 
Ole's performance in the CL and against the PL top 4 should determine whether he gets the job or not.
 
The worship for Pochettino in this forum never ceases to amaze me. You would think that he is Sir Matt Busby from some of the posts here. Where in fact, he has yet to win a single trophy despite managing for more than a decade.
 
If he keeps this up, I don't see why not? Who cares who the trainer is, as long as the team wins it's fine. If there's one thing Mourinho proved at United is that past success doesn't count for anything. If Ole's wins, Ole should stay.
 
Sultan said:
Like a lot of United fans, I've always had a very soft spot for Ole. Although I'm trying to remain objective me prioritising Ole for the job is maybe me talking from the heart rather than the head.
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Humble
Attacking football
Youth
Positive energy
Attitude/respect towards fans

Ole ticks all of those boxes. Objectively, if he can do a good job the rest of the season it's not only my heart that will want him to stay.
 
Can Ole attract big players? Can he improve players with his coaching? Does he get on with the DoF we choose and his chosen style? Is he prepared to upset the big egos when needed? Will they take it from him or sulk again?

What happens this season isn't that important. It's about the long term and not getting carried away.
 
Sultan said:
Like a lot of United fans, I've always had a very soft spot for Ole. Although I'm trying to remain objective me prioritising Ole for the job is maybe me talking from the heart rather than the head.
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When you have so much talent at disposal, you can either improve them or just get out of their way and let them play to their potential.

I'm not sure how many managers are out there that can improve players of that caliber, maybe Pep and Klopp.

If they aren't available the next best option might be a person who is not headstrong or a negative Nancy. I have think ole fits that, knows the club inside out and more importantly has enough cachet with fans and board members to tide him over when the rough spots come.

It's also a powerful deterrant against player power because not one player in the squad has enough clout to undermine a beloved player from with charisma and a link to the golden past.

Ole might just be our version of zidane.
 
Managers of such calibre as Sir Alex, Zidane, Pep, Jose were inexperienced when they took on big jobs and were successful. It has to start somewhere.
 
Yes. To get top 4 this season he would need to have results in the big games also as we still have to play all of the teams above us.

We wont win every game and that's fine. Every team has upset. Sometimes its just one of those days. As long as we play good football with clear tactics and the players are trying on the pitch that's what matters.

As for the Di Matteo comparisons i don't think that comes to play here. The football Chelsea played with him was defensive to put it mildly. With those players no wonder it went tits up ( like with Mourinho after). Ole on the other hand want's to play good attacking football which our players are loving so i don't think the players would have an issue with that and Ole's man management seems to be spot on.

The only thing that would worry me is the transfers. Would he be ruthless enough and get rid of the dead wood. And would the players coming in be absolutely top class. My opinion is that we need about 3-4 top players and we are good to go. Then we have lots of exiting youth prospects who would get good game time if we cut the squad a bit.
 
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Depends doesn't it.

If we get top 4, but get outclassed in the CL and we look tactically naive in the bigger games in the second half this season - then he shouldn't get it.

If we don't lose a single game between now and the end of the year, go far in the CL and he shows himself to be tactically astute in the process, then he should probably get it.

If he lands somewhere in between.... then he should only get it if Poch isn't available.
 
Bilbo said:
If we finish top 4, and we can't get either Pochettino or Allegri, I see no harm in giving him a shot.
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I wouldn’t get Allegri even if we’re fighting for survival by the end of the season. No more defensive managers.
 
I would be more than happy to see him get the job even if he finishes just outside of top 4 but we mount a good challenge especially seeing the football he's getting this team to play.
 
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It all depends - the fact is Ole could finish 6th and deserve the job, or finish 4th and not deserve it.

If Chelsea win - say 13 of their last 17 matches, they will finish 4th or better unless we win 15 of our last 17 matches. And clearly if United win 16 out of 21 matches under OGS - he deserves the job, regardless of top 4 or not.

At the same time - theoretically both Arsenal and Chelsea could collapse (not likely but still) - and we could snatch the 4th Place without really impressing.


But most likely - if we get top 4 or come really Close- he will probably deserve the job if we also play good, attacking football in the process.
 
ZupZup said:
Yes he should get the job. There is absolutely no guarantees we will be successful with any other manager we bring in.

Imagine a situation where Ole were to perform a miracle and get us in the top 4... only for us to appoint another manager at the end of the season who doesn't end up performing? We would be looking back at the decision to not appoint Ole as the worst managerial decision we've made since SAF retired. It would be a bigger mistake than appointing any of the last 3 - worse than the Moyes decision.
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Been thinking the exact same thing!
 
First, we need to see how he fares against top teams like Spurs in the league and PSG in C.L ( tactical-wise ), then we can talk. If Ole keeps delivering this brand of football, this determination and desire with few important wins and progress in the table with reaching last 8 in C.L or Semis then he totally deserves it though.
 
I'm sure we won't base any decision on such a simple measure no.

I said at the time when people were writing the season off that top 4 was very achievable and it's looking like that'll be the case. I still don't get the wierd forced pessimism, this is a top 3 team so with over half a season left it's not a miracle to get top 4.

It'll be in the fashion which we do it, if it's just Arsenal and Chelsea being shite which is currently the case and why we're still innit then no. If we go on proper title winning form in terms of points per game then maybe. Still a bounce isn't unusual and we've all seen great runs where it was nothing to do with the managers credentials. We should speak with others and then make our decision based on that not some temporary bounce
 
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